Judgment of the Gentiles, the whole world, and Israel's full blessing

With chapter 12 one division of the whole book closes. That which
commences with chapter 13 continues to the end of chapter 27, which
describes the same millennial condition, but in a more extended
sphere, because the world -- of which these latter chapters speak --
is brought in; while chapters 5-12 were in especial connection with
Israel.

Present gap of time from Messiah's rejection

The chapters we are now considering connect events that were then at
hand with the end of the age. It is only by thoroughly apprehending
this that we can understand them. The reason of this is simple: the
nations are looked at in reference to Israel. But time is not
reckoned, with respect to Israel, from the Babylonish captivity until
the last days The introduction of the Messiah as a stone of stumbling,
with which the special epoch of seventy weeks is noticed in Daniel,
has been already considered. But this passage in the prophet of the
times of the Gentiles shews only more distinctly that time is not
reckoned afterwards to the close. Seventy weeks go to the full
restoration of Israel. The immense gap, which has now lasted more than
1800 years, is in no way taken into account. [1]

The destruction of Babylon and Assyria in the last days

In the eyes of the prophet, Babylon, or more correctly its head,
besides the idolatrous corruption, represents the imperial throne of
the world in contrast with the throne of God at Jerusalem. [2]
Babylon will be overthrown, and God will again bless Israel. This will
be the judgment of this present age -- of the world. It is represented
here in that destruction of Babylon which was at hand. But this
judgment will not be completed until, the times of the Gentiles being
ended, Israel shall be delivered. The character of the king of Babylon
is described here in very remarkable language (chap. 14: 12, 13). It
is the spirit of Babylon, and still more especially in its last
representative at the close, to which this prophecy in its full
accomplishment refers. It was so even in Nebuchadnezzar himself --
nay, even when they built the tower of Babel. The destruction of the
Assyrian then takes place in the earth; [3] and, although the house of
David had had its sceptre broken, Philistia shall be judged and
subdued, and Jehovah will found Zion, and the poor of His people will
trust in Him. This destruction of Babylon, and of the Assyrian after
Babylon, necessary to the understanding of the whole scene, is a kind
of scene apart, complete in chapters 13, 14.

But in Israel's territory, or in connection with this people, some
nations still remain; and God must dispose of these in order that
Israel may enjoy the full blessing and the result of the
promises. Babylon, being an immense system, which takes the place of
the throne of David, is seen as a whole. The nations, whose judgments
are here related (although there is allusion to events nearer the time
of the prophecy), are looked at as in the last days, when God resumes
His throne of judgment in order to re-establish His people. Thus
Nebuchadnezzar had taken Tyre and subdued Egypt. The Assyrian had
overthrown Damascus and led Ephraim captive. And these were events
comparatively near at hand. But, as a whole, the events spoken of here
are owned in the last days. Even in the preceding chapter the
destruction of the Assyrian is placed after the fall of the king of
Babylon. Yet historically the Assyrian had been subdued by Babylon;
and the overthrow of Sennacherib had taken place many years before
that epoch. But prophecy always looks to the accomplishment of God's
purposes. Here there are generally no details with respect to the
instruments employed by God. They are found elsewhere.

[1] The seventy weeks, or 490 years, include the great gap which has
already lasted more than 1800 years -- these coming in between the end
of the 483rd and the end of the 490th -- only that Christians know
that half the 70th week was really fulfilled in Christ's ministry;
therefore we get a half week in Daniel 7 and in the Revelation. [2]
Besides the fact of the captivity of God's people, Babylon has a very
important position with respect to God's dealings. Until
Nebuchadnezzar received power, the government of God, while centred in
Israel (with respect to whom He had set the bounds of the peoples),
took cognizance of the nations as dispersed at Babel. He allowed them
indeed to follow their own ways; but before Him every nation had an
individual existence. The throne once taken from Jerusalem, from
whence God governed the world with a view to His chosen people, the
world is given up to the dominion of a single throne, which stands
therefore before God as holding the sceptre of it. Three other powers
followed in succession, the last of which was in existence when Christ
came, but the tune of its judgment was not yet come. These four
empires form the times of the Gentiles. God will resume His
government, and again judge the nations in view of Israel; and
Babylon, or the one universal empire, will be set aside in its rebel
and apostate condition. But, while it lasts, the empire has its own
peculiar and absolute position before God. Jerusalem, punished for
its idolatry by the Babylonish captivity (subjection to idols) and the
transfer of the throne from Jerusalem to the Gentiles, is so far owned
in the remnant under the Gentiles that God in the prophetic books
takes account of it, though not as then His people, till the second
grand sin was perpetrated, the rejection of Christ But this even was
in the prophet when they were in captivity. Still they were partially
preserved to present Christ the Lord to them, after that set aside
till sovereign grace comes on them in the last week, for faith the
latter half. Time begins to count again when that is come.

[3] A proof that the prophecy relates to the last days, for of old the
Assyrian fell before Babylon, being conquered by it. It is to be
remarked that the Assyrian, not the beast nor Antichrist, is the
subject of this prophecy. Under the Assyrian Judah was not
"Lo-ammi," nor is he in this prophecy. In Babylon Judah was
captive, and "Lo-ammi" written on the people. Hence we must
not look for the beast. The Assyrian is the main enemy here.